Most growers who tried a new high-yielding rice hybrid last season gave it passing marks--especially in the yield class--and say they'll plant it again this season. A few growers gave the newcomer mixed grades, and only a small percentage say the hybrid flunked and that they won't palnt it again.

RiceTec Inc. of Alvin, Texas, released XL6 for commercial production on a limited basis during the 1999 season. Company officials targeted growers in Missouri and Arkansas who were interested in trying the hybrid and were willing to take the extra cultural steps needed to ensure success. Altogether, growers planted about 15,000 acres.

This year, RiceTec hopes to expand plantings and has enough seed for about 30,000 acres, says John Nelsen, general manager of RiceTec Seed.

The company will be focusing on growers in Arkansas, Missouri and portions of Mississippi and Texas.

Many of the growers who had XL6 in 2000 reported high yields, although in some cases their conventional varieties produced similar yields.

In 2000, 72 percent of commercial XL6 fields had yields of more than 167 bushels per acre dry, with an average of 188 bushels per acre, according to a survey of growers conducted by RiceTec. Only 10 percent yielded less than 144 bushels per acre.

In 19 farm-scale comparisons that pitted XL6 against popular public varieties, XL6 averaged 203 bushels per acre compared to commercial varieties with 162 bushels per acre. Among the commercial varieties were Cocodrie, Lemont, Wells, Priscilla and Drew.

Although RiceTec officials warned growers ahead of time that milling yields could be slightly lower than conventional varieties, some growers found XL6 milling yields were less than they had expected.

Early in the milling season, independent millers reported average milling yields of 43/65 for XL6 and 55/68 for conventional varieties. Both sectors increased as the milling season progressed. On the high end, one XL6 field near Paragould, Ark., yielded 59/69.

Although the hybrid requires less than half the fertilizer of conventional varieties and typically doesn=t need a fungicide treatment, the $40 per-acre savings is offset by seed that costs $50 more than conventional varieties.

The $125 per-acre revenue gained from higher yields is partially offset by the $60 milling disadvantage. In the end, RiceTec officials estimate a typical farmer can net an additional $55 per acre with the hybrid compared to growing conventional varieties.

Committed to the technology

Terry Gray, who farms near Delaplaine, Ark., had two fields of XL6 for a total of 60 acres. From one, he harvested 202 bushels per acre dry; from the other, 223 bushels per acre dry. His Cocodrie yielded 155 bushels per acre dry.

Gray=s initial milling report for XL6 was 42/66, although he hoped it might improve after he held it in bins and slowly moved air through it to temper the grain. RiceTec officials have said from the onset that because of lower milling quality, the hybrid is designed for the parboil market.

The milling reports from Gray=s LaGrue were 60/70, and he even had some that milled 63/70, which he says is about as good as he can hope for with that variety.

Nevertheless, Gray says he=s committed to the hybrid and believes RiceTec is going in the right direction. He plans to increase his acreage for 2001, although how much will depend on what type of marketing deal he can put together to sell the hybrid for parboiling.

AWe=re not going to quit XL6, but I understand people=s concerns,@ Gray says. AIf they (RiceTec) are smart enough to do this, it=s just a matter of time before they get things fixed.

AYou know farming is tight and you worry about the money in your pocket today. But I like to look a little bit further out in the future, so I am sticking with it.@

The jury=s still out

Gary Sebree, who farms near Stuttgart, Ark., also had a 60-acre field of XL6 this year but wasn=t overly enthused by the results. The hybrid yielded 178 bushels per acre dry whereas his LaGrue yielded 176 bushels per acre. During the past five years, LaGrue has averaged 177 bushels per acre on Sebree=s farm.

Sebree=s XL6 milling yield was 43/65 compared to 52/71 for his Wells, 57/69 for LaGrue and 60/70 for Cocodrie.

Sebree admitted that the hybrid requires only 60 units of nitrogen applied once at pre-flood, thus reducing his fertilizer costs. It also appears to have better disease resistance than conventional varieties, making a fungicide application unnecessary.

On the other hand, the seed is more expensive than conventional varieties and runs about $70 per bag, which plants one acre.

And with the lower milling yields Sebree says he=ll wait a while before planting another field of the hybrid.

AMills will discount 15 to 20 cents per bushel for the lack of head rice,@ Sebree says. AIt takes about 5 bushels per acre yield increase to make up for 1 pound in the difference in head rice.

AI think XL6 has its place and this is just one variety. I=m sure they will come out with others, and I think they=ll improve it. I=ve always been reluctant on a new thing to say that is something I=ll never do again. Under the right circumstances, I may very well try it again.@

Disappoint in the field

But Lee Walt, who farms with his father and uncle near Dumas, Ark., had a bad experience and says XL6 will not be in his planting plans for 2001.

The hybrid yielded about 140 bushels per acre compared to Walt=s conventional varieties, which averaged 170 bushels per acre. The hybrid milling yield was 26/50.

AWe did everything like the company said,@ Walt says. AIt looked like the best rice we had--it was pretty. I don=t know what happened. I don=t know if it was the heat, but the milling yield was just terrible.

"That is probably the worst milling yield we have had. I know we’re not going to plant any more. I wished it would have worked.@

It=s the few situations like Walt=s that has RiceTec officials searching for answers. What they did notice in both 1999 and 2000 is that the later the grower planted the hybrid, the less it yield.

AWe say plant it first,@ says Jim Thompson, RiceTec national sales manager. AYou can go in and adjust your drills when you have plenty of time, then you=ll have a distinct advantage.

AFrom a management standpoint, having a hybrid out there as early or earlier than other varieties should mean you harvest it first.@

More hybrids in the works

XL6 is the first in a long line of hybrids RiceTec is developing for producers who mechanically plant the crop.

If the breeding work continues on schedule, the Alvin-based company could have two new long-grain hybrids available for limited commercial planting in 2002, says Dr. Alan Gould, RiceTec executive vice president of research and technology. The company also could have a medium-grain hybrid designed for the Southern market that same year. Within the company, the potential candidates have been nicknamed XL7,. XL8 and XM1.

From seed expansion currently being conducted in Puerto Rico, RiceTec officials hope to have about 2,000 acres= worth of seed available for large-scale field trials this season.

AWe know they won=t be exactly like XL6,@ Nelsen says. APart of the reason to have 2,000 acres is to make sure we understand that we have the right recipe for each of these products. There=s a very good possibility that each hybrid will have a little bit different recipe.@

For the 2001 season, RiceTec will have about 30,000 acres= worth of seed available for planting. With all of the discounts, the seed runs $69 per bag, and one 35-pound bag plans 1 acre.

This is a change from 2000, when RiceTec recommended a planting rate of 40 pounds per acre.

AYou don=t need 40 pounds,@ says RiceTec president and chief executive officer Robin Andrews. AWe=ve tested it down as low as 20 pounds. This particular hybrid has a potential to lodge, and the lower the seeding rate, the less the lodging.

AThere=s also an economic advantage. It=s expensive seed to produce, and the lower the seeding rate, the more benefit to the farmer.@

RiceTec also is recommending 60 units of nitrogen applied all at once ag pre-flood. This also differs from the 2000 recommendation of applying 45 units preflood and 15 units at late midseason.

The hybrid also seems to need more potassium and is sensitive to potassium deficiency. The nutrient helps create strong stalks, something critical to tall plants prone to lodging.

Although RiceTec Seed General Manager John Nelsen won=t go so far as recommending specific rates of potassium, he did say that farmers should be aware of their soil potassium levels and Aapply whatever they are comfortable with.@ RiceTec plans to continue studying hybrid nutrient requirements this summer along with rice Extension specialists.

For optimum quality, the company recommends harvesting the hybrid first before other varieties and cutting it at 18 percent to 20 percent moisture.

Distribution, sales changes

This year, the Alvin-based company has changed the way the hybrid seed is distributed and sold. RiceTec recently named five companies as distributing partners: Cache River Valley Seed LLC, Carter-Cox Seeds Inc., Cullum Seeds LLC, Jimmy Sanders Inc. and Lawhon Farm Services Inc. These companies condition, package and distribute the hybrid seed.

Between 150 and 250 service representives comprised of local farm input dealers will sell the seed retail and help customers. The service reps will be trained by RiceTec and can draw on the company=s expertise and tech support to help troubleshoot.

RiceTec recommends planting no more than 10 percent of your acreage to the hybrid.